Amusement apparatus



H. F. MAYNES.

QMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. l0. I920.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

Application filed August 10, 1920. Serial No. 402,638.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known t at I, HYLA FREDERICK MAYNES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gaines, in the county of Tioga, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Apparatus; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an amusement device, and more particularly to that class generally known as roller-coasters.

There are various types of so-called roller coasters, the simplestcomprising a trackway in which there are a succession of steep in clines and declines, so that a car passing up and down these travels at very high rates of speed. In the more recent develo ment of roller-coaster, the passengers are 1e through labyrinths, and past unexpected and unusual scenes, this type being usually known as the scenic railway. There are thus two elements which combine to make devices of this type a success, and these are the elements of speed and surprise, and that ride is most successful which can combine these two features in :1 pleasant and acceptable manner.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and unusual element of surprise in the ordinary roller-coaster ride, and this is accom lished by the use of air blasts suddenly an unexpectedly applied.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide means for applying these air blasts, and also to design a car adapted to receive and utilize them effectively.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is had to the accompanyin drawings disclosing a )referred embodiment thereof; and in whic Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of the ordinar roller-coaster trackway, showing the position of the blower pipes with relation to the track and a assing car,

Fig. 2 is a vertica horizontal section through the trackway and car, likewise showingzthe position of the blower pipes; and

ig. 3 is a transverse, vertical section throu h the car and trackway.

In 516 drawings 1 represents the trackway upon which a car 2 is adapted to run, this trackway bein provided with the ordinary inclines and eclines so common in rollercoasters, or provided with any other desired means whereby the car may be propelled. Situated at intervals alon this trackwav are blower pipes 3 and 4, t e former being disposed beneath the trackway and delivering its'volume of air upwardly, while the latter are placed along the sides of the track: way and blow their air inwardly, in a horizontal direction, and at a level just above that of the floor of car 2, for a purpose which will be later described. Air is sup plied to these pipes by means of an ordinarv fan blower, or in any other desired manner. it being necessary only that a strong and re liable/blast of air be secured, and the spccilio form of blower forms no part of this invention.

The car 2 comprises, in common with other roller-coaster cars, a base or body 5, rollers or wheels 6 and seats 7 Unlike most cars, however, it is provided with a foraminous floor or bottom 8 immediately in front of the seats 7. This floor may be provided with a series of relatively small openings 9, such as shown, or with a plurality of transverse or horizontal slots, the essential requisite being that an uninterrupted flow of air is permitted upwardly through the bottom of the car. The dashboard 10 of the car, and the rear of the front seat are curved to form deflecting surfaces 11 tending to direct the air currents entering through the bottom of the on r toward the assengers occu ying the seats. In the midd e of the floor of the car, before each seat and closely adjacent the deflecting surfaces 11 are other deflecting surfaces 12 and 13 whose function it is to deflect the horizontal currents of air entering the car from the side throu h blower pipes 4 in an upward direction. mmediately below these deflecting surfaces 12 and 13 are other de fleeting surfaces 14 and 15 whose function it is to deflect the upwardly directed currents of air from the blower pipe 3, around surfaces 12 and 13, and thus into the bottom of the car. The car is provided with foot rests 16 and the whole car is inclosed by means of a wire mesh cage 17.

The operation of the device is as follows: The car 2 moves along the trackway as is customary, and suddenl rides over the blower pipe 3, from whole there is being constantly blown a strong current of air. This air passes through openings in the floor of the car, strikes against the transverse deflecting surfaces 11 and shoots upwardly into the faces of the assengers. Taken thus unawares, hats are lown oil and much merriment results. The horizontally moving currents of air which enter the car from blower pipes 4 are deflected upwardly by means of deflecting surfaces 12 and 13, and rearwardl by means of deflecting surfaces 11, and t us ultimately act in a manner quite similar to those currents issuin from pipe 3. Either or both of these devices of blower pipe may be employed, the essential idea being that at varied and unexpected intervals along the ride, strong blasts of air are directed upwardly from the bottom of the car. The functionof the cage 17 is to prevent the loss of hats which are likely to be blown off by the air currents which take the passengers completely by surprise.

By means of this invention a simple, effective element of surprise is added to the speed thrill of the ordinary roller-coaster and it is the judicious combination of these two which makes such rides enjoyable, and this is the criterion of success in this art.

Although one preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is clear that other forms of car could be devised, and other arrangements of blower pipes effected whereby a strong current of air could be deflectedupwardly through the bottom of such a car. It is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited to these details of construction, but includes broadly all such modifications as would ordinarily suggest themselves to those skilled in this art.

Although blasts of air will ordinarily be directed upwardly through the car at inter vals along the trackway, the invention in its broadest aspect embraces the use of an air blast at one point only.

I claim:

1. An amusement apparatuacompnsing a trackway, at car adapted to run upon the traekway, and means situated on the trackway for causing currents of air to rise in said car.

2. An amusement apparatus, comprising a trackway, a car adapted to run upon the trackway, and means situated at intervals along the trackway for causing currents of air to rise in said car.

3. An amusement apparatus, comprising a trackway, a car having a foraminous bottom adapted to run upon the trackway, and means situated on the trackway for blowing a current of air upwardly through the foraminous bottom of the car.

4. An amusement; apparatus, comprising a trackway, a car having a foraminous bottom adapted to run upon the trackway, and blower pipes situated at intervals along the trackway to blow currents of air upwardly through the foraminous bottom of the passing car.

5. An amusement apparatus, comprising a trackway, a car having a foraminous bottom adapted to run upon the trackway, blower pipes situated in the trackway beneath the normal path of the car and at the side of the trackway just above the floor level of the car, and deflecting plates within the bottom of the car, the arrangement of the foregoing parts being such that as the car passes the blower pipes, currents of air a re blown upwardly through-the car.

6. An amusement apparatus, comprising a trackway, a car having a foraminous bottom adapted to run upon the trackway, blower pipes situated at intervals along the trackway to blow currents of air upwardly through the foraminous bottom of the passing car, and inclosed sides and top on said car.

7. An amusement apparatus car having a ioraniinous or perforated bottom, and de fleeting plates near the bottom of the car designed tod flect currents of air upwardly through the car.

In testimonywhereof Iaflix m si nature.

HYLA FREDERICK A .138. 

